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(No Model); 2 Sheets-SheehZ.

J. S. PURS LEY.

TIRE TIGHTENER. No. 288,954. Patented Nov. 20, 1888.

PATIENT Prion,

JAMES S. PURSLEY, OF ATLANTA, GEORGIA.

Tl RE-TIGHTENER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 288,954, dated November20, 1883, Application filed March 29,1883. (no model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, James S. PURSLEY, of Atlanta, in the county ofFulton, and in the State of Georgia, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Tire-Tighteners; and I do hereby declare that thefollowing is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of referencemarked thereon, making a part of this specification.

This invention relates to certain improve ments in tire tighteners; andit has for its objects to provide a device that may be readily appliedto a wheel and employed to force the felly away'from the shoulder on anyparticular spoke or spokes, or the whole series of spokes successively,to make room for the insertion of a washer, whereby the folly and tiremay be set closely and securely together, as more fully hereinafterspecified. 7 These ob jects I attain by the means illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 represents a perspective viewof my improved device, and Fig. 2 a vertical sectional view thereof.

The letter A indicates a recessed metallic head, in which is adapted toslide a metallic bar, B, which, at its outer end, is provided withbifurcated lateral extensions D, for the purpose hereinafter specified.The said bar, on one side, is provided with a series of cogteeth, E,with which intermesh the cogged portion of the lever F, fulcrumed to apin, G, passing through the jaws of the head, for the purposehereinafter specified. The said bar is provided also with a series ofratchet-teeth, H, with which is adapted to engage a pawl, I, to hold thebar against backward movement. The outside of the head is provided withlugs K, between which are pivoted the wings or plates L, which areslightly curved, so as to embrace any particular spoke, one of saidwings being provided with lugs M, between which is pivoted a lever, N,the other wing being provided with similar lugs, between which the levermay be set, so as to clamp the wings to the spoke, the lever beingprovided with a screw-thread, P, and binding-lever R, whereby the wingsmay be tightened upon the spoke. The head, at each side, is providedwith lugs 8,, through which pass the ends of a a bent rod, T, whichforms a frame, the free end of which is adapted to rest upon the hub,the frame being adjusted and held in proper position by means of theset-screws U, as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings. The letter V indicatesa spring, by which the pawl I is held in a normal position.

The operation of my invention is as follows: The operating-lever isbrought to a position at right angles to the head, forcing the metallicbar fully into the same. The bifurcated portion of said bar is thenplaced around the spoke and brought to bear directly upon the inner partof the felly. The jaws'L are then clamped around the spoke. The bentmetallic rod is then adjusted so that its free end will set against thehub, and is confined in such position by tightening up the set-screws.The operating-lever is then borne upon, so as to force it to theposition shown in the drawings, or approximately thereto, forcing thebifurcated extensions of the sliding bar against the inside of the follyand pushing the same away from the shoulder at the end of the spoke, soas to permit the insertion of awasher between said shoulder and felly,the bar being held in the meantime by the pawl, which sets in theratchet on said bar. The bent bar T receives the direct downward strainagainst the hub, and prevents the head from being forced laterally,which would bend or break the spokes, the clamps serving to hold thedevice in place in connection with the bar. Vhen the washer is properlysecured, the pawl is released, and the folly springs back upon thewasher, binding the parts of the wheel securely together.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is-

In a tire-tightener, the combination of the recessed head provided witha sliding bar having a lateral bifurcated extension adapted to straddlethe spoke of a wheel, and provided with suitable cogs and ratchets, acogged operating-lever, a stationary and hinged clamping-wing, andclamping devices, and an adjustable bent bar to rest upon the hub, thewhole arranged to operate substantially in the manner specified.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature, in presence of two witnesses,this 27th day of February, 1883.

JAMES S. PURSLEY.

Witnesses:

B. N. PUnsLnY, FRANK l3. Tonnnnn.

IOO

